This is quite difficult for me to ask, as I've kept it secret for many, many years. I am now 36 and between the ages of 11-13 I was sexually abused by 2 sons of a church pastor. They were 14 and 16 years of age at the time. Because they were under age, and as it was a long time ago, will that mean they will be let off the hook or is there still a chance for prosecution? I was a very naive 11 year old.
2007-02-25 23:04:22 · 21 answers · asked by Hello 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks utuk
2007-02-25 23:37:06 · update #1
I will be meeting with a prosecuting attorney tonight (down at the Lodge). If you keep this question open, I will try to talk to him and get some info back here by tonight.
2007-02-25 23:10:43 · answer #1 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Flea, Why is it that most of sexual abuse are either a pastor,or a family member doing the abuse. It make you wonder if it's wise to go to church anymore. I would call the district attorneys office and find out if you can nail these BASTARDS. What they do to you is an out rage and they need to be put behind bars. Then they will see want sexual abuse is all about.
A Friend.
Clowmy
2007-02-26 07:15:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not much chance of that happening since they were children to, at that time, under the laws of most states. Even if you reported it then, they would have probably been tried as children and given not much of a sentence, if convicted. Some states do have laws that allow reporting such things until you are 30. There must be laws such as to this because people could just go after someone they did not like, at anytime. And that does happen a lot.
2007-02-26 07:42:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that this must have been a terrible thing for you to go through but be assured of one thing that no one gets off the hook. Remember that God deals with these things in his own way and in his own time and justice certainly will be met. The important thing right now is that you learn to deal with any bitterness that you have and then learn how to forgive as God has told us to do. It is the bitterness in your life that will destroy you more than anything else. You cannot change what happened so I would suggest that you forgive what has happened and press on and develop a good positive life for the Lord Jesus Christ. And sometimes these things that happened to us are the very things that give us a sensitivity to this same thing in the lives of others and provide us with a real ministry for the lord.
2007-02-26 07:16:58 · answer #4 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the UK there are cases that have been reopened 30+ years later and solved (with resulting convictions) due to new evidence. So if there is a limit, you are most likely within it.
However, as you didn't tell anyone at the time, you are unlikely to be able to put together a convincing case against them.
I also recommend asking the question here:
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/dir/index;_ylt=AiAsAAfsDfZtMUYkkJd7CG7pFQx.?link=list&sid=396545448
is it is more likely to get an accurate answer in the Law section.
2007-02-26 07:37:10 · answer #5 · answered by Tom :: Athier than Thou 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The statute of limitations has almost certainly expired. You might want to contact the prosecuting attorney's office in your area, though, for two reasons--1) there could be a loophole in that, and 2) I doubt you were the only one--pervs don't outgrow it--and these people need to be put on somebody's radar. I am really sorry.
2007-02-26 07:10:24 · answer #6 · answered by Phartzalot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you run across a lawyer or policeman you might ask them about the statutes of limitation of the abusive issue in your state. But since it was over twenty years ago, you should consider just forgiving, and write about it so that others are forewarned. Kids can be very very mean.
I Cr 13;8a
2007-02-26 07:25:58 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the time lapse and the ages of them and you when this happened I would guess that there can be nothing done at this time. If one of them was over 16 at one of the times that you were abused then you could make out a case.
2007-02-26 07:09:23 · answer #8 · answered by ANF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must check the statue of limitations in your state. However, you can also go through a civil suit (if a criminal case is not posible).
Before or while you speak to a lawyer, you may need to speak to a Rape Victim Counselor or a psychologist. You may be suffering of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and not realize it.
2007-02-26 07:30:33 · answer #9 · answered by David G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on which state you live in. Some states have no statute of limitations on felonies. Because of the age difference the young men would be charged as adults.
2007-02-26 07:14:26 · answer #10 · answered by Answergirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋